MP Calls On Government

MP Calls On Government

06 February 2019 | 02:32pm

Member For South West Coast Calls On Government To Help Ensure Future Of Farming

Member for South West Coast, Roma Britnell, has called on the Andrews Government to step in and set up a campaign to educate the community on what farmers do to protect the environment and care for animals.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Mrs Britnell called on the Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes, to support such a campaign, following the launch of a website listing the details of Australian farms by animal rights charity, Aussie Farms.

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Mrs Britnell said the government must play their part in creating a campaign to install confidence in the community that agricultural best practices are in place.

"Government has a part to play in showing the good things farms do for our environment, which will in turn counter the negatives being pushed by a noisy minority.

“Sections of the community are very vocal, so it’s time to tell the truth about how farms operate and work to improve the landscape - be it via working to minimise erosion, managing infestation of weeds or pests and planting areas for native animals to live."

The community also needs to know there are strict legislative parameters in place and if farmers do wrong, there are consequences."

Mrs Britnell said unless there was a positive campaign with a solid framework supported by Government, the vocal minority would win and the benefits of producing quality food for people be lost.

“People should be able to make informed decisions, and not just hear propaganda from one side with a clear agenda,”